’10 Riddles’ by Damian Robin

1
it shows many sides
but usually 2 —
can boil & bluster
& end in a stew —
can be clear as crystal
& cut a sharp view —
or narrow to nothing
but be taken as true

2
it holds symbols & keys
& opens up views —
it helps us to see
into olds & news

3
they show vanity
in scenery
the familiar in the strange
& friendship’s range

4
I can fly
I can make crowds roar
I can pass by
beside, behind, before

I get caught in nets
but seldom in the sea
I cause regrets
and ecstasy

5
I clean up
highlighters, crumbs, cup
stains, bent staples — end up
with cramped books/
notes/sheets crammed in nooks
’n’ crannies — but things look s-
mart — tidy —
— put away neatly —
by me — the boss of busy —
the best or-
ganiser in a-
ll the world — till its encore —

6
up n down
noisy n mute
straight or round
mainly on foot

7
I can pump your drooping drive.
In deep extremes, flush you alive.
And I can dam your self-esteem,
flood it with addiction’s cream
until you wake, far, far, downstream.

8
A hole in the ground
(usually round)
not
straight
down
like
a well —
straight ahead, on the level, to help people travel.

9
In the UK, a space for a bum.
In the US, a place for a fanny.
Tho’ often fitting more than one,
it may change its name if there’s many.

10
Of both you could equally say:
they’re under a cloud, one cloud in the sky —
or not far apart joined by one sunbeam’s ray —
though unseen at night they’re close anyway.

***Answers Below***

[1  an argument ]

[2  tv remote control stick ]

[3  selfies ]

[4  a soccer ball ]

[5 tidying my desk ]

[6 stairs ]

[7 stress/adrenalin ]

[8 a tunnel ]

[9 seat, chair, stool > bench, sofa, couch ]

[10 next door ]

Damian Robin lives in England. He works for an international newspaper and a bilingual magazine. He lives with his wife and three children.

Featured Image: “Oedipus and the Sphinx” by Francois Xavier Fabre.